Airflow guide cover

ABSTRACT

An airflow guide cover includes a main body and a panel. The main body includes a top wall, two sidewalls extending down from opposite sides of the top wall, and an airflow guiding channel bounded by the top wall and the sidewalls. The airflow guiding channel includes two opposite openings. The panel is rotatably connected to a top of the main body above one of the openings. The panel is capable of being rotated between a first position where the panel is supported on the top wall, and a second position where the panel partly covers the opening, to adjust airflow through the airflow guide cover.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a pending U.S. patent application having a same title, and filed on Apr. 28, 2011, with the application Ser. No. 13/095,912, which is assigned to the same assignee as this patent application.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an airflow guide cover.

2. Description of Related Art

An electronic device, such as a computer, generally includes an airflow guide cover over a heat generating component, and a fan arranged at an end of the airflow guide cover, to dissipate heat produced by the heat generating component. However, because different heat generating components have different heights and volumes, airflow past the different heat generating components needs to be adjusted to meet the heat dissipation needs of the components in the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of an embodiment of an airflow guide cover.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a circled portion II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial, exploded, and isometric view of the airflow guide cover of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a second pivot pole of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows partially the airflow guide cover in a different state.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a circled portion VI of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of an airflow guide cover includes a main body 20, two first pivot poles 30, two second pivot poles 40, and two panels 50. The panels 50 are configured to be swung into place to restrict or control the amount of airflow through the airflow guide cover 10 as needed.

The main body 20 includes a top wall 21, and two sidewalls 23 perpendicularly extending down from opposite sides of the top wall 21. An airflow guiding channel 25 is bound by the top wall 21 and the sidewalls 23. The airflow guiding channel 25 includes two opposite openings. One of the openings is an air inlet 251, and the other opening is an air outlet 253. Two hooks 212 are formed on a top of each sidewall 23 respectively adjacent to the air inlet 251 and the air outlet 253, and extend towards the opposite sidewall 23. Two blocks 231 respectively extend up from upper portions of opposite ends of each sidewall 23. A pivot hole 233 is defined in an upper portion of each block 231, above the top wall 21. Two slots 235 are respectively defined in middle portions of the opposite ends of each sidewall 23.

Each first pivot pole 30 includes a first shaft 31, and two stop members 36 detachably connected to opposite ends of the shaft 31 by threaded portions of the stop members 36 and the shaft 31.

Each second pivot pole 40 includes an elongated plate 41, and a second shaft 43. Two pivot portions 413 respectively extend outwards from opposite ends of the plate 41, and two fixing portions 415 respectively extend inwards from the opposite ends of the plate 41. A pivot hole 412 is defined in each pivot portion 413. A recess (not shown) is defined in a side of each fixing portion 415 facing the opposite fixing portion 415. Opposite ends of the second shaft 43 are detachably engaged in the recesses of the fixing portions 415. When the second shaft 43 is connected to the fixing portions 415, the second shaft 43 is parallel to and spaced from the plate 41.

Each panel 50 is substantially rectangular. A flange 51 longitudinally defining a through hole 512 longitudinally extends from a first side of the panel 50. Two latches 53 perpendicularly extend from opposite ends of a second side of the panel 50, respectively, away from the flange 51.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in assembly, the second shafts 43 are detached from the corresponding plates 41, and then extended through the through holes 512 of the corresponding panels 50, with opposite ends of each second shaft 43 exposed out of the corresponding panel 50. The opposite ends of each second shaft 43 are respectively engaged in the recesses of the fixing portions 415 of the corresponding plates 41. The second pivot poles 40 are respectively placed on tops of the air inlet 251 and the air outlet 253, to allow the pivot portions 413 of each second pivot pole 40 to contact inner sides of the corresponding blocks 231, and to allow the pivot holes 412 of each second pivot pole 40 to align with the pivot holes 233 of the corresponding blocks 231. The stop members 36 are detached from the corresponding first shafts 31, to allow the first shafts 31 to extend through the corresponding pivot holes 233 and 412 respectively at the air inlet 251 and the air outlet 253, with opposite ends of each first shaft 31 exposed out of outer sides of the corresponding blocks 231. The stop members 36 respectively engage with opposite ends of the first shafts 31, and abut against the outer sides of the corresponding blocks 231. Thereby, the panels 50 are rotatably connected to tops of the main body 20, respectively, above the air inlet 251 and the air outlet 253. The panels 50 are rotatable relative to the corresponding second pivot poles 40, and the second pivot poles 40 are rotatable relative to the corresponding first pivot poles 30.

In use, the airflow guide cover is installed in an electronic device (not shown). At least one electronic component is received in the airflow guide cover, and a fan (not shown) is arranged to align with the air inlet 251 of the airflow guide cover. The fan blows air into the airflow guide cover, to allow the air to pass through the electronic component and then exhaust out of the airflow guide cover through the air outlet 253.

When there is a need for unrestricted airflow through the airflow guide cover, the panels 50 are rotated to the top wall 21 of the main body 20. The hooks 212 are used to latch the panels 50 to the top wall 21.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, according to the heat dissipation need of the electronic device, when there is a need to restrict the airflow in or out the airflow guide cover, the corresponding one of the panels 50 is disengaged from the corresponding hooks 212 and rotated to partly cover the air inlet 251 or the air outlet 253. The latches 53 of the panel 50 engage in the corresponding slots 235 of the sidewalls 23. Thereby, the panel 50 is fixed in place over the air inlet 251 or the air outlet 253.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and the functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. An airflow guide cover, comprising: a main body comprising a top wall, two sidewalls extending down from opposite sides of the top wall, and an airflow guiding channel bounded by the top wall and the sidewalls, the airflow guiding channel comprising two opposite openings; a panel rotatably connected to a top of the main body above one of the openings, wherein the panel is capable of being rotated between a first position where the panel is supported on the top wall and a second position where the panel partly covers the opening.
 2. The airflow guide cover of claim 1, wherein two blocks respectively extend up from upper portions of ends of the sidewalls towards the opening, a first pivot pole is connected between the blocks, and a second pivot pole is rotatably connected to the first pivot pole, the panel is connected to the second pivot pole.
 3. The airflow guide cover of claim 2, wherein a pivot hole is defined in an upper portion of each block above the top wall, the first pivot pole comprises a first shaft extending through the pivot holes, and two stop members respectively and detachably engaging with opposite ends of the first shaft and abutting against outer sides of the blocks.
 4. The airflow guide cover of claim 3, wherein the second pivot pole comprises an elongated plate, two pivot portions respectively extend outwards from opposite ends of the plate and contact inner sides of the blocks, a pivot hole is defined in each pivot portion, the first shaft extends through the pivot holes of the blocks and the pivot portions, to rotatably connect the second pivot pole to the first pivot pole and the blocks.
 5. The airflow guide cover of claim 4, wherein two fixing portions respectively extend inwards from the opposite ends of the plate, the second pivot pole further comprises a second shaft, a flange defining a through hole longitudinally extends from a side of the panel, the second shaft extends through the through hole of the flange, and opposite ends of the second shaft are detachably engaged in the corresponding fixing portions.
 6. The airflow guide cover of claim 5, wherein a middle section of the second shaft is rotatably received in the through hole of the flange.
 7. The airflow guide cover of claim 1, wherein a hook is formed on a top of each sidewall adjacent to the opening, and extends towards the opposite sidewall, when the panel is located on the first position, opposite ends of the panel are respectively latched by the hooks.
 8. The airflow guide cover of claim 1, wherein a slot is defined in a middle portion of the end of each sidewall towards the opening, two latches respectively extend from opposite ends of the panel, when the panel is located on the second position, the latches respectively engage in the slots of the sidewalls. 